At this age your puppy’s development is rapid. They start to become much more independent and if you don’t keep an eye on them, they’ll get up to mischief! They have lots of energy but still need plenty of rest and naps. Socialization and basic training will teach your puppy how to behave and interact with people and other animals. Putting in the time and effort now will lead to a happy, healthy and well-behaved dog.

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At this age your puppy will have a lot of energy to burn so you will need to walk them regularly. Build up their walks gradually, starting with around 15 minutes for a 3 month old. By 6 months your puppy will be able to go for 30 minute walks, twice a day. Allow puppies to walk at their own pace, with plenty of opportunities for exploration, play and rest along the way. Make sure your puppy is comfortable walking on lead with a collar or harness before taking them out. Only let your puppy off lead if they are in a secure area and have been trained to return to you when called. This will help to prevent your puppy from running off and getting lost or hurt. Playing fetch with your puppy, either in your garden or other open space, is a great way to burn some of that energy but keep energetic play like jumping and running restricted while their joints are still growing.

The first 6 months of a puppy’s life are when the most rapid growth period occurs. By 5-6 months most dogs will have reached 50% of their adult weight. As they grow, so do their appetites, so you’ll need to increase how much food you give your puppy. To ensure your puppy is eating the right amount and getting a healthy, balanced diet, follow the recommended guidelines on the food packaging which is based on age and breed size. Treats can be used for rewarding good behavior but don’t give in to those puppy dog eyes when they are begging for more! Instead, use a portion of their regular food for rewards, offer them a toy as a distraction or take them for a walk. The number of times your puppy is fed in a day can now be reduced to 2-3 times. This is also the age where you might decide to change their diet from wet to dry food. You may also wish to change the brand. Any changes to their diet should be made gradually to avoid tummy upsets. Mix small amounts of the new food with the old food, gradually altering the ratio over a couple of weeks until you are left with only the new food. You should have your puppy weighed and their body condition scored regularly by your veterinary team to make sure they are growing at a healthy rate. The Body Condition Score (BCS) assesses if a dog is too fat or too lean. Your puppy’s growth will be recorded on a chart so that you can see if they are gaining weight at the correct rate. If the growth rate is too fast it can cause problems, especially in large and giant breeds. Overfeeding your puppy or over-supplementing with unnecessary nutrients and minerals can cause severe and permanent damage to their joints and bones. The effects of over-feeding and over-supplementation are of higher risk to large and giant breeds.

Depending on the breed and whether they are long-haired or short-haired, your puppy will need grooming once or twice a week. You should also regularly check for any health issues or parasites. Check their skin, ears, eyes and teeth for any redness, inflammation, or bad odor. Continue to clip your dog’s nails when needed to prevent any health issues such as deformities. If you have been clipping your dog’s nails and grooming them for a while now, they should be comfortable with you doing it. It is important to not force your dog to be groomed or have their nails trimmed. Allow your dog to choose to opt in and leave if they need a break. Incorporate lots of small, healthy, yummy treats to make grooming an extra enjoyable experience. Puppies will start to lose their baby teeth at this age, which means their adult teeth are coming through and that could be causing them some pain. They will chew anything they find so make sure you have lots of puppy chew toys, otherwise they will chew your belongings. Once their adult teeth are in and the gums are no longer sensitive, it now becomes more important than ever to brush their teeth daily to maintain dental hygiene and prevent any issues.

It’s a good idea to start thinking about neutering your puppy, unless you plan on breeding them when they’re an adult. Neutering can be done from 4 months old, and some female dogs are spayed before their first season (around 6 months). There are pros and cons to spaying before or after the first season, so it’s worth discussing the timing with your veterinarian. There is no upper age limit for neutering, so if you wish to breed your dog first, you can have them neutered later in life. Speak to your veterinarian about neutering if you have any questions or concerns.

The sensitive period of puppy socialization ends at 12-14 weeks, but socialization and training continue to be important. Dogs that aren’t socialized properly and regularly may lack confidence, and will have problems adjusting to new people, dogs, and situations. Puppies need to get used to new sounds, smells, people, animals, and types of transport so that they don’t become stressed and react out of fear. By 6 months of age, your puppy should be well on its way to understanding common cues like sit, lie down and come. They should also be comfortable wearing a lead and collar or harness, and therefore able to go on regular walks. Housetraining will be progressing well with your puppy regularly using the designated toileting area.

From 3-6 months, deworming can be reduced to once a month. Regular flea treatment is also recommended to keep your puppy happy and healthy. They will be going out and interacting with other dogs more now, so are at higher risk of catching fleas and other parasites. Depending on when the first vaccinations were done, your puppy will either have already had or be due their second vaccinations. If you have gone over the time frame between the two vaccinations (2-4 weeks) you may need to restart the course. Speak to your veterinarian if you are unsure.

• Visit Fear Free Happy Homes at www.fearfreehappyhomes.com for video tutorials on making grooming and dental care a fun experience for you and your pet.